Effect of carbon dioxide on the performance of Spark Ignition
Engine by Hydrogen Inject with Biogas Fuel
Keyur D. Patel
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Vadodara Institute of Engineering, Vadodara, India
ABSTRACT
Methane and carbon dioxide are the two main
constituents of biogas. One of the reasons of poor
combustion is the presence of carbon dioxide in the
biogas. Biogas also has traces of nitrogen,
hydrogen, oxygen and hydrogen sulphide. Because
of a high investment cost and a heavy
infrastructure, only fifty percent of the biogas
production upgrades (decrease CO2%) by use of
water scrubber. so the natural gas replacement is
very low. This experiment is conducted on
modified single cylinder 97.5cc petrol engine, to
work it as a biogas-hydrogen fuel spark ignition
engine. Hydrogen added in small amounts
by HHO generator (hydroxy) kit to decrease
concentration of CO2 in biogas power and find out
the effect of CO2 on the performance. The
experimental results show that the large quantity
of CO2 present in biogas lowers its calorific value,
flame velocity and flammability range compared
with natural gas. So it can be utilized in an IC
engine with the hydrogen.
Keywords—Biodiesel, Hydrogen, SI engine,
HHO, Bio fuel.
I. Introduction
In the 20th century, world energy usage has increased
significantly due to the effect of industrialization, and this
increase in usage has resulted in limited petroleum reserves,
such as the 1970’s oil crisis [1]. Most of the energy used in the
world is supplied by fossil fuels. Burning of the fossil fuels
generates waste materials, mainly emissions to the atmosphere
in the form of combustion fuel gases and dust, as well as some
ash. These waste materials have hazardous effects on the
environment, some of them locally, others with more
widespread or even global impact. Not only does the
continued use of large amounts of fossil fuels pose a serious
threat to the environment, but also the fuels themselves are
finite in quantity. There are debates amongst experts about the
extractable amount of fossil fuels. General opinion is that in
the beginning of the 21st century almost half of the fossil fuels
had already been consumed. The known worldwide reserves
of petroleum are 1000 billion barrels and these Petroleum
reserves are predicted to be consumed in about 40 years.
Another problem with petroleum is the emission of pollutants,
such as CO2, NOx, CO and hydrocarbons (HC). So, the world
had to search for other sources of fuel and now a day the most
useful and eco-friendly source are gaseous fuels.Gaseous fuels
have wide flammability limits and can easily form a
homogeneous mixture with air for good combustion. Thus
they will lead to very low levels of pollutants and can be
effectively utilized in both spark ignition (SI) and compression
ignition (CI) engines. Moreover, gaseous fuels have high
hydrogen to carbon ratios. Thus very low CO2 emissions are
possible when they are used in IC Engines. Natural gas and
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) are the readily available
petroleum-based fuels, while hydrogen, biogas and producer
gas can be obtained from renewable sources. Renewable fuels
will not affect the net CO2 in the environment.Biogas is an
attractive source of energy for rural areas. It can be produced
from cow dung and other animal waste and also from plant
matter such as leaves and water hyacinth – all of which are
renewable and available in the countryside. Also called “gobar
gas”, it is produced by bacteria, which breaks down organic
material under air less conditions.This process is called
“anaerobic digestion”. The composition of biogas, depending
on the feed material and the method of digestion, usually lies
within the following ranges: 50- 70% methane (CH4), 25-50%
CO2, l-5% H2, 0.3-3%N2 and various minor impurities,
notably hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Hydrogen sulphide
provides the biogas its bad odder. The presence of carbon
dioxide in the biogas reduces the burning velocity which
ultimately affects the performance of the engine. Percentage
of methane and carbon dioxide in biogas varies with the
maturities of feed stock, temperature, water content, loading
rate of raw material and bacterial actions. A biogas can act as
a promising (future excellence) alternative fuel by substituting
(to put in place of) considerable amount of fossil fuels.
Biogas, produced by the anaerobic fermentation of cellulosic
biomass materials, is a clean fuel to run internal combustion
engines [2].
 II. Applicability of Biogas and S. Orhan Akansu (2007) and E. Porpatham (2012) conclude
Hydrogen in IC Engines that presence of up to 30% carbon dioxide in biogas
improved the engine performance as compared to the same
running with natural gas (96% methane) but percentage of
A. Why Biogas will useful in IC Engines?
methane and carbon dioxide in biogas varies with the
maturities of feed stock, temperature, water content, loading
We know that the economy of India depends to a large extent
rate of raw material and bacterial actions [4].
on the wheels of transport. However, because of a high
investment cost and a heavy infrastructure, only fifty percent Theoretical study shows that concentration of CO2 in biogas
of the biogas production is upgraded, and the natural gas decreases and increases combustible component of fuel by
replacement is very low. This renewable energy is already injecting hydrogen with biogas. Also, hydrogen is cleanest
used for heat and electricity production, but the best upgrading world fuels which add with fossil fuel in engine to increase
solution of this clean energy should be the injection into the calorific value, flame velocity, flammability range of fuel.
natural gas grid or the production of vehicle fuel. Biogas
containing more than 45% carbon dioxide caused harsh (rough TABLE I
or unpleasant to the senses) and irregular running of the MASS FRACTION OF COMPONENTS
engine. Similar results were obtained by others, in which mass mass fraction
increased exhaust emission of the unburned fuel was found in fraction of combustible
the region of 45-50% carbon dioxide [3]. The large quantity of of carbon component
CO2 present in biogas lowers its calorific value, flame velocity dioxide
and flammability range compared with natural gas. The self-
ignition temperature of biogas is high and hence it resists C H2 TOTAL
knocking which is desirable in SI engines. Thus biogas has a H4
high anti-knock index and hence biogas engine can use high
very bad biogas(MAX 0.4 0.5 0.01 0.535
compression ratios, which can lead to improvement in thermal
CO2) biogas
good 0.3 2
0.6 5
0.01 0.635
efficiency.
biogas injected with 0.307 2
0.4 5
0.24 0.642
Biogas cannot be used to run an IC engine directly on hydrogen 2
account of its high self ignition temperature. However, it can
be utilized in an IC engine with the dual fuelling approach. IV. Experimental Set Up
The dual fuel engine is basically a modified IC engine. In this
case, a mixture of air and biogas or other gaseous fuel is The experimental apparatus included compressor and
sucked into the engine, compressed and then ignited by a biogas storage tank, biogas purification, internal combustion
spray of fuel with a low self-ignition temperature like diesel, engine and its attachments and H.H.O. generation kit, biogas
vegetable oil or biodiesel, which is called a pilot fuel [4]. Dual injection kit, fuels-air injection, dynamometer as shown in Fig.
fuel operation always needs a small amount of pilot fuel for 1. Sufficient biogas was filled up in biogas storage tank by use
ignition. of compressor and distilled water was filled up in HHO
generation kit up to required height withsalt.D.C. Power was
B. Why and how hydrogen will inject? supplied to HHO kit and HHO gas was supplied to fuel-air

Hydrogen is also renewable source, which produces in small

amount by use of HH0 Generator, and directly inject into
engine with low calorific biogas. Water contains two
Hydrogen atoms (H2) and one Oxygen molecule. In a
combined form they are the abundant resource known as
water. A HHO Generator is a device that uses electrolysis to
convert water into two parts Hydrogen and one part Oxygen.
This gas, also known as Brown's Gas, is a very clean burning
powerful fuel. Through the simple process of running electric
current through the water, the atoms 'split' back into their
injector, also connected biogas storage tank and vacuum pipe
original elemental forms. This process is known as
with biogas injectionkit.
electrolysis. Electrical current runs through the water and all
the Hydrogen atoms run toward the negatively charged
electrode, while all the oxygen atoms move toward the
positive electrode. V. Experimental Procedure
With starting engine and increasing the speed of engine and
III. Theoretical Considerations, it is measured by tachometer and note down spring balance
Experiment Setup and Procedure scale at different speed. Mass of biogas and HHO (lit/sec)
were measured and calculated from brake power, brake
thermal efficiency and specific fuel consumption at different
A. Theoretical Consideration
speed.
 A. Mathematical Modelling Where, CV = calorific value for fuel
(kj/kg) mf = fuel
consumption Kg/hr
1) Brake Power(kw)

Bp = . Deff .N.(W-S)/60000 .0.3

VI. Results And Discussion
Here,
Deff = (Dp + Dr), Effective diameter of TABLE I
pulley(m)Dp = diameter ofpulley OBSERVATION TABLE FOR PETROL FUEL
ENGINE
Dr = diameter of rope
W = Total mass supported at Sr. Speed Effectiv Total Spri Dens Tim Mas calori
rope (kg) S = spring balance No. (RP ediamet mas s ng ity of e for s of fic
(kg) M) er of sup bala petro cons fuel, value
pulley, port nce, l ume mfp for
N = pulley speed, RPM Deff S , ζp 10 fuel,
(kg/hr)
Assuming dynamometer efficiency 30% brake power of the (kg) (kg/ ml CV
engine. m
1 620 0.065 9.9 1.3 772
3) 102 0.272 42000
2 865 0.065 9.9 2 772 83 0.336 42000
2) Mass of the petrol fuel(kg/hr) 3 1115 0.065 9.9 3 772 76 0.365 42000
4 1956 0.065 9.9 4.5 772 65 0.427 42000
-5
Mfp= ζp .10 .3600/tp
here, TABLE II
ζp = density of petrol (kg/m3) RESULT TABLE FOR PETROL FUEL ENGINE
tp = time taken for consuming 10 ml of petrol
Sr No BP Specific Fuel Brake thermal
(sec)
consumed. efficiency.
3) Mass of gases fuel(kg/hr)

Mfg= mb + mh (kw) (kg/kw.hr) (%)

Here, mb = mass of biogas (kg/hr) 1 0.589 0.462 18.55
mb = ζb . 10-3.3600/ tb 2 0.76 0.442 19.39
Here, ζb = density of biogas (0.85 3 0.856 0.427 20.1
kg/m3) 4 1.17 0.365 23.46
tb = time consume for filling 1 lit (sec)
Here, mh = mass of hydrogen (kg/hr) TABLE III
mh = ζh . 10-3.3600/ th OBSERVATION TABLE FOR HHO & BIOGAS FUELS
ENGINE
Here, ζh = density of hydrogen (0.089
kg/m3) Sr. Spee Effective Sprin mass of mass Mass calorific value
th = time consume for filling 1 lit (sec) No. d diameter g biogas, of Offuel for fuel
(RP of balan mb HHO, (KJ/kg)
M) pulley(D ce (kg/hr) mh
4) Specific fuel consumption (kg /kw.hr) eff) (kg) (kg/hr
(S) ) mfg (CV)
SFC = mf/Bp
(kg/hr)
Here, mf = mass of fuel (kg/hr)
5) Brake thermalefficiency 1 590 0.065 1 0.455 0.095 0.55 30000
2 810 0.065 1.9 0.566 0.095 0.661 30000
As the power output may be indicated by power or brake
power, therefore thermal efficiency may be expressed as 3 1095 0.065 2.5 0.641 0.095 0.736 30000
indicated thermal efficiency or as brake thermal efficiency. 4 1780 0.065 4 0.842 0.095 0.937 30000
BTE = Bp.3600.100/ mf.CV
 ignition engine”, Fuel, 87(2008): 1651.

TABLE IV [3] S. Bari, “Effect of carbon dioxide on the performance

RESULT TABLE FOR HHO & BIOGAS FUELS ENGINE of biogas/diesel dual-fuel engine”, School of
Mechanical Engineering, University Sains, Malaysia,
Sr. BP Specific Brake thermal (1996): 1007.
No. Fuel efficiency.
consumed. [4] E. Porpatham, A. Ramesh and B. Nagalingam,“Effect
of compression ratio on the performance and
(kw) (kg/kw.hr) (%) combustion of a biogas fuelled spark ignition
engine”, Fuel, 95(2012): 247.
1 0.584 0.941 12.74
2 0.721 0.916 13.08 [5] S.S.Kapdi,“Biogas scrubbing,compression and
3 0.901 0.816 14.69 storage: perspective and prospectus in Indian
4 1.168 0.802 14.95 context Centre for Rural Development and
Technology”, Indian Institute of Technology, New
Delhi, India. (2004).

[6] Keyur patel,” Experimentation study on spark

Effect of Bp on Specific Fuel consumption:
At the same brake power, the SFC for petrol is less than
biogas and HHO due to high calorific value of fuel. The
specific fuel consumption is higher at low brake power for
both fuels; the SFC continually decreases with increase of
brake power for petrol engine but for HHO and BIOGAS
engine SFC nearly remains constant above brake power 0.9.
Effect of BP on Brake Thermal Efficiency
ignition Engine by hydrogen with biogas fuel”, VIER
Journal of Engineering Research, Issue -4 (2017), pp
79-82.
[7] European commission, Energy for future, Renewable
sources of energy white paper for a community
strategy and action plan, com, Brussels (1997).

brake thermal efficiency of petrol engine is higher compared

to HHO and biogas engine at same brake power. Brake
thermal efficiency of both fuel engines increases with increase
of brake power, but above brake power 0.9 the brake thermal
efficiency not much affected with increase of brake power.

VII. Conclusion
Based on this experimental work on the use of hydrogen to
enhance the combustion characteristics of biogas, the
following conclusions are drawn. SFC decreases with increase
in brake power for both fuels, SFC of biogas and HHO fuel
engine is higher than petrol engine due to low calorific value
of fuel. BTE increases with increase in brake power for both
the cases but the BTE of biogas is somewhat lower compared
to petrol engine because the SFC of petrol is lower.
.
REFERENCES

[1] M. Canakci , “Combustion characteristics of a

turbocharged DI compression ignition engine fueled
with petroleum diesel fuels and biodiesel”, Bio
resource Technology, 98(2007): 1167.

[2] E. Porpatham, A. Ramesh and B. Nagalingam,

“Investigation on the effect of concentration of
methane in biogas when used as a fuel for a spark